ELECTRO-

MAGNETI
C WAVES
Quiz
A. Multiple Choice. Choose only the LETTER
of your answer.
1) Electromagnetic waves consist of
a. compressions and rarefactions.
b. vibrating electric and magnetic fields.
c. particles of light energy.
d. high-frequency gravitational waves.
2) Electromagnetic waves are
a. transverse waves. c. perpendicular
b. longitudinal waves. d. parallel
3) Electromagnetic waves
c. always travel at the same speed.
d. need a medium to travel through.
e. can travel through a vacuum.
f. cannot travel through the vacuum of outer space.
4) Light waves traveling through the
vacuum of space have a speed that's equal
to
a. 3.0 X 10 to power of (3) m/s.
b. 5 X 10 to power of (6) m/s.
c. 3.0 X 10 to power of (8) m/s.
d. 5 X 10 to power of (8) m/s.
5) Which of these electromagnetic
waves has the shortest wavelength?
a. Infrared waves
b. Light waves
c. Radio waves
d. X-rays
6) The main difference between a radio
wave and a light wave is its
a. speed.
b. wavelength.
c. both A and B
d. none of the above.
7) Heat lamps give off mostly
a. X-rays.
b. infrared waves.
c. ultraviolet waves.
d. Microwaves.
8) Compared to its speed in air, the
speed of light in water is
a. slower.
b. the same.
c. faster.
d. zero.
9) The primary purpose of polarized
sunglasses is_____.
a. to block ultraviolet rays.
b. to block infrared rays.
c. to block glare from reflections.
d. to look cool.
10) Polarization is a property of
a. transverse waves.
b. longitudinal waves.
c. both.
d. neither.
11) The effect in which white light
separates into different colors is called
a. magnification
b. refraction
c. reflection
d. dispersion
12) What is the wavelength of an
electromagnetic wave that has a
frequency of 1 Hz?
a. More than 1 m
b. Less than 1 m
c. 1 m
d. None of these
13) What is the frequency of an
electromagnetic wave having a
wavelength of 300,000 km?
a. More than 1 Hz
b. Less than 1 Hz
c. 1 Hz
d. None of these
14) After randomly polarized light
passes through a polarizer, it is
a. totally blocked.
b. totally polarized.
c. randomly polarized.
d. partially polarized.
15) If two polarizing filters are held with their
polarization axes at right angles to each other,
the amount of light transmitted compared to
when their axes are parallel is
a. zero.
b. half as much.
c. the same.
d. twice as much.
B. Problem Solving. Sketch and solve the problem
below involving polarization of light. (5 points)

Unpolarized
• 
light with an intensity of = 16 W/ is
incident on a pair of polarizers. The first polarizer
has its transmission axis aligned at 50° from the
vertical. The second polarizer has its transmission
axis aligned at 20° from the vertical. What is the
intensity of the light that emerges from each
polarizer?